Nyll Bergbahn Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 For those who don't already know, NASA's New Horizons spacecraft will reach its closest approach to Pluto in a few minutes time, the last of the nine 'classical' planets to be visited by such a mission. Already, we have seen some fantastic images of Pluto and Charon. Check them out at http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/I have only seen Pluto a couple of times through large telescopes, once when it was still inside Neptune's orbit in the late 1990s and again a couple of years later when passing outside once again. Although just a small faint dot indistinguishable from background stars requiring a very detailed star map to locate, it was good to be able to complete my observing list of all the planets, the rest being very easy to find and see.It doesn't feel like 10 years since I put my name down to be included on the CD inside the spacecraft but it was indeed 2005. I'm pretty sure Madelaine has her name on it too and probably Dillon and Celestial as well. Anyone else? Give it a wave as we fly by! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coby Foden Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 My name is travelling there as well. :matte-motes-big-grin: When, and if, some aliens read the disc in some future day they will be thinking that we are some very important persons on planet Earth because our names were included. VIP, wow! :smileyvery-happy: :smileywink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyll Bergbahn Posted July 14, 2015 Author Share Posted July 14, 2015 That's great Coby! VIPs..I like that! :matte-motes-big-grin: Well, that's two of us anyway, I'm sure there must be more. This photo was taken yesterday. Looking forward to seeing ones from today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dillon Levenque Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 Nyll Bergbahn wrote: For those who don't already know, NASA's New Horizons spacecraft will reach its closest approach to Pluto in a few minutes time, the last of the nine 'classical' planets to be visited by such a mission. Already, we have seen some fantastic images of Pluto and Charon. Check them out at http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/ I have only seen Pluto a couple of times through large telescopes, once when it was still inside Neptune's orbit in the late 1990s and again a couple of years later when passing outside once again. Although just a small faint dot indistinguishable from background stars requiring a very detailed star map to locate, it was good to be able to complete my observing list of all the planets, the rest being very easy to find and see. It doesn't feel like 10 years since I put my name down to be included on the CD inside the spacecraft but it was indeed 2005. I'm pretty sure Madelaine has her name on it too and probably Dillon and Celestial as well. Anyone else? Give it a wave as we fly by! Thanks for the thought, but while I'd imagine you're right about Maddy and Celestiall, I am not among the worthies like you and Coby. I always find out about this stuff after the fact, I guess. Looking forward to the images, though, like everyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tari Landar Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 Our names went out there too We are utterly fascinated with this sort of thing, and space in general, so we take every opportunity offered to us, to participate. Plus,the kids think it's just awesome to be that cool, haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyll Bergbahn Posted July 15, 2015 Author Share Posted July 15, 2015 Great news Tari! It is just a bit of fun and good to hear your kids think it's cool! As Dillon said, we can all enjoy the wonderful images as NASA releases them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tari Landar Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 Did you know that you can send the crew for this particular mission a congratulations letter/message? If not, I highly encourage doing so, if you're interested in such things My kids have a habit of doing this a lot, so we always get emails when any kind of mission at all is sent out, or completed, so that they can send a letter(electronically, of course). https://www.whitehouse.gov/webform/send-note-congratulations-new-horizons-mission-team?thanks=1&sid=78742986 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyll Bergbahn Posted July 16, 2015 Author Share Posted July 16, 2015 Thanks Tari! I did not know about this but have just completed a Note of Congratulations. :smileyhappy: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dillon Levenque Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Thank you Tari! That was fun. I doubt my message will ever get read but I loved writing it, and I do hope if nothing else the New Horizons team at least will take some satisfaction from seeing the number of messages clogging up their Inbox. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlecDeBoeuil Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Coby Foden wrote: When, and if, some aliens read the disc in some future day they will be thinking that we are some very important persons on planet Earth because our names were included. They are more likely to be asking why a bunch of virtual people applied pseudonyms to messages that meant nothing and would probably never be be read. Just like these forums. Alec - to waste my time and money on useful things, not pointless ones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snugs McMasters Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 Maddy sends her name, and phone number, into space at every opportunity. And you are among the "worthies". Remember that 113 of us went up in STS-133. That's you, right behind Torley and Lillie... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlecDeBoeuil Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 Snugs McMasters wrote: That's you, right behind Torley and Lillie... Not me, mate. Alec - to listen to singing, not caterwauling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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